Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Chapter 10
When I heard him reach my room he immediately went to the open window. He looked down and then up and saw me standing there. I couldn't resist it, I smiled and waved at him. He roared in outrage and climbed out my window and onto the lower roof. I turned back to my goal and took a deep, cleansing breathe. The sound of Charlie's cursing and roars faded away and all I could here was the wind calling my name softly.
I began to lightly run across the long roof, and could sense Charlie's footsteps coming up behind me. But I didn't care. I gently closed my eyes and picked up my speed slightly before gracefully launching off the end of the roof.
I soared gently through the soft air, which felt like sweet feathers caressing my skin. I could smell the trees were closer to me now, so I reopened my eyes and caught a very useful branch just in time. I swung lightly un the branch before landing on the balls of my feet on a lower branch as gracefully as a mountain lion.
I straightened up quickly and spotted my duffel just above me. I reached up and grabbed it and slung it over my shoulders. Before I took off into the deeper parts of the forest I looked back over my shoulder at Charlie, who was standing on the edge of the roof with his mouth open and staring at me.
I teasingly waved at him and blew him a kiss, and before I turned away I could see his shocked expression turn to one of rage. I chose that moment to skedaddle out of there. I turned heel and jumped down to the forest floor. What would usually feel hard, crunchy, and just out-right painful to people felt suddenly soft and smooth to me.
I caressed the forest floor gently and breathed in the sweet air of freedom. I began an easy yet swift jog deep into the darker parts of the forest. I caught sight of the Olympian Mountain Range and headed in that direction. I figured if I got near the mountains then that would be too far in for him to find me.
As I started to jog I thought about the Cullens. I couldn't bear to be away from them for too long, especially not Edward. They were my true family now. I changed my direction towards the Cullen home. Then inspiration struck. I could run through the Quileute Reservation and go straight to the Cullen home from there; that'd make me more difficult to track. I decided on that and began jogging towards the reservation.
It would be a long jog, I knew that much. But I also knew that I could do it, and that I would. I guessed that at my current speed I'd reach the Cullen household sometime tonight, probably in the early hours of the morning.
I began to wonder vaguely if I could somehow increase my speed and an idea struck me. I remember Lecio telling me that I would become a part of the forest when I needed to. That I would become a shape-shifter of sorts. I thought for a moment about the animal I would like to become and thought of a wolf. They were fast and agile and of fair size, they blended in and I had always seen them as very intelligent creatures. I pulled my duffel off my back and after a moment's thought tied the straps at an angle that would make me be able to slip the bag onto my back when I had transformed.
Now I just needed to focus.
Focus.
I took many deep, cleansing breaths and concentrated on the forest surrounding me, and I again felt at one with nature. I felt free, and I felt at peace again. Like all was as it should be out here. I focused on my inner being, with some difficulty since I'd never attempted this before. I found my inner being and searched in it for the will to be able to shape-shift back and forth and to be able to shape-shift into the one creature I now needed. Deep, deep inside my spirit I felt a creature, one that was totally at one with the forest and the world.
I was utterly shocked for a moment to find out that my inner spirit was in fact a wolf itself, but not just any wolf. It was its own species. Larger than a wolf by far, yet still with the right features and graceful looking. It looked sleek and fast, and it seemed to call out to me, as if asking me to transform into the beautiful soul of the creature within me. I concentrated, but left my eyes open.
I felt a slight weight on my collarbone, one that wasn't there before. I looked down and saw a necklace, made of the most firm and elegant dark twine in the forest. On the twine was a stone, with a smooth, dark grey texture and white swirls in it, like a swirling mist. It also had some slight, hidden shades of green and brown. I wondered vaguely what it was and how it got there, before I heard the beautiful whisper voice from within my heart that had before told me Lecio and Delvy's names.
For when one the forest needs, and the forest is also needed by its savior,
a message shall ring through the hearts and minds of the creatures of all the land,
telling them that their gifted one has come to the wilderness with them,
for however short a time or however varied it may be. The creatures shall rejoice,
and there shall be singing in the wind throughout the world. Upon the gifted the stone of the Earth is given,
and shall allow the beholder to transform into any creature walking the Earth,
though the gifted's strongest and most powerful transformation will take place into
the creature of their soul and will help to defend the beloved planet the most.
All they need do is touch the stone around their neck and have their heart draw strength,
and for them to think of what they wish to become for any length of time.
The creature one becomes does not signify who they really are, it merely gives them power.
The power of having the voice inside and to be given the stone of the Earth is an honor,
one that should never be mistreated or underestimated, for it can do great things.
Use your gift well young one, and discover with the stone of the Earth all that you can do.
With that, the magical voice of my heart faded away, and I was left standing there listening to the last ringing tones of its last words. I knew I would honor my gift to the best of my ability, and would use it wisely. The idea of being able to transform as such enlightened me, and made me feel great. I wanted it, not only so I could feel at one with the forest, but so I could help anyone, anything, anywhere, almost anytime. It was a wonderful gift, and I felt truly blessed to have been granted it.
I took another deep breathe and thought with a pure, ringing voice and a new tenor in it showing power and strength of a wolf, and I felt my body change. In less than half a second I had gone from being a girl to being a beautiful pure white wolf. Well, almost pure white. I had russet tipped eared and the tip of my tail and paws were a lush russet as well. They still had some of the dark brown in it, but the color was mostly russet. Odd. I shrugged my big shoulders to myself and started walking in a circle.
It was easy, effortless even, for me to do everything I needed. To adapt from a girl to a wolf. It felt natural. I grinned a lopsided and goofy grin and felt in high spirits. I howled into the air of the sunset and with my bag on my back, I set off into the darkening woods towards the reservation and the Cullens.
I noticed I was much larger than the average wolf, I was nearly the size of a horse. But I was very fast, faster than anything else in the world probably. Then I remembered what the voice had told me. I shall have my most powerful and strongest transformation when using the animal of my soul. That was a wolf.
I was overjoyed. I leaped into the air and then dug my paws deep into the earth as I set out at an amazing speed. This was faster than my reaction ability had been as a human, when I had gotten my powers. I grinned to myself and noticed the sound of approaching footfalls, though they were soft and padded and going in beats of four. Paws. Large paws by the sound of it.
There were probably about four coming up on my left from ahead. another four on my right, and a good seven in front of me. Fifteen then. I slowed down a bit, trying not to rush into anything. I shouldered off my duffel bag and put it next to a tree and walked forward slowly and gently.
I could sense that what was in front of me was standing still, and the ones on the sides were slowing down and fanning out; circling me. I didn't mind, if it was a creature of the forest they would be fine with me, but I sensed something different. I sensed human spirits, but animal bodies.
Werewolves the voice whispered to me. Suddenly my mind was filled in with every little detail about the werewolves and who they were. It all happened in less than five seconds. I knew it all, and it made sense. The first thought in my head was That was awesome! I accepted it immediately, because I knew it to be true. I could suddenly sense the pack mind. I knew by their voices who they were, even though they didn't say their names.
Man, what are we doing out here? - Embry.
We're coming out to see what that scent is that Leah picked up, and I can feel it, it's something big. - Jacob, the leader, of one half of the pack anyways.
Man, do you guys smell that? It smells like the woods itself, not another trace on it. Blends in perfectly. Yet there's something strange about it. - Jared. Good guess.
Yeah, but what I smell is danger, so be on your guard. - Jacob. Always the protective one it seems.
Here it comes, whatever it is its walking - Seth warned them.
Start closing in you guys -Leah, commanded to her pack, and the ones on my sides began moving in.
I caught a glimpse of something white, like super white. I've never seen a white so clean, especially out here - Kim remarked in a suprised voice.
It looks like an animal, but it's big, Like as big as us, maybe bigger, but only by a bit. - Quil said, sounding worried.
Wait, did I just see that right? Did that just look like a wolf? - Collin asked suprisedly. I felt his ears prick up.
It's a wolf, bigger than us! It looks female, and dang does it look fast. This has to be like a new species of werewolf or something! - Brady exclaimed.
Oh wow she's big, and look in her eyes, they're a dark green, like the color of the leaves. - Clair said softly. She didn't sound worried, just curious.
Stay focused guys, we don't know what this thing is. Just be ready for anything. - Jacob commanded with his Alpha voice. The others got into defensive stances, ready for anything, as Jacob had put it.
I stepped out from the darkness of the thick trees and into the now circle of werewolves, Jacob directly in front of me with Leah now at his side. I was completely surrounded by the wolves, but it did not bother me. I held my head high and kept a mighty posture. The pack's thoughts were going wild with guesses, comments, and shocks of amazement.
I stood there, letting my power show through my form and letting the sense of my presence spread out through the group, and I could see some of the wolves cower slightly or become fidgety and uneasy. It was nice to know I was appreciated in a way. I focused then on the task at hand.
The wolves were one by one falling silent, unsure of what to do now. I felt the power bestowed in me and in my mind's voice, so I called out into the packs joined minds.
Greetings young, old, and wise werewolves of the Quileute lands, it is an honor to meet you all. I told them formally. They stared at me with shock, while some's fur bristled. For one tense moment it was still before Jacob regained his cool sense of authority and responded.
Greetings to you as well. My name is Jacob, I am one of the two leaders of the packs of the Quileutes. The other leader is Leah, and we are honored to meet you as well. Might we ask who you are and why you have come onto our lands? He asked. His tone was curious and yet withstanding, the qualities of a great leader. Being courteous to any intruders gives them an upper hand. In most cases. This wouldn't have been one of them.
My name is Isabella Swan, a residence of the town of Forks on your border. The chief of police, Charlie Swan, is my father. I have been given the gift as protector of the Earth and given powers by the Lord and Mother Nature and Earth. I protect any and all who need it and am connected with the world and the minds in it as we speak. I am attempting to reach the Cullen household on the opposite side of your lands, and request permission to pass through. I told him.
They seemed to be absorbing this for a moment, when Jacob suddenly asked. Could you please transform back into your human form and let us speak with our voices. We shall all transform as well, and then we can sit and talk, if you have the time? He asked me catiously. Well done for someone so young.
I nodded to him; I was not expected anywhere yet, and it might be good if I didn't intrude on the Cullen household quite so late at night. I turned around and loped gracefully back to where my bag was and retransformed. I was glad to see that when I transformed my clothes stayed with me. This definitely made things easier. I felt sorry for the other wolves, having the change of their forms causing their clothing to rip apart.
I grabbed my duffel's straps and carried it effortlessly back to the clearing where the now human wolves were waiting in a group.
When I walked out I knew immediately that I looked different, I saw my reflection in their minds. My dark brown hair had turned to the most gorgeous russet and copper, shining and bouncing with the rays of the moon. My hair had some pure white streaks in it which looked beautiful. Probably the source of my wolf color. My skin was clear of all injury and freckle. It was pure as snow and somewhat tanned, but not a lot. I loved my new appearance. My once brown eyes were now a deep, dark green like the surrounding woods. My stance was graceful as I dropped my duffel to the ground and stood there examining them.
I already knew what they looked like of coarse, but that was beside the point. They all had coppery skin and dark eyes. They all had a slight, or not so slight, muscular build to them and all had curious stares of wonder.
I spoke then. "It is great to be able to speak with you all, " I said and I looked at each person as I said their name. "Jacob, Leah, Sam, Emily, Paul, Jared, Kim, Sarah, Quil, Embry, Claire, Rachel, Collin, Brady, and Seth. " They all had mirrored faces of slight shock and surprise as I pointed them all out by name. Jacob stepped forward then and looked me over for a moment.
"You look different Bells. I don't know if you remember, but when we were little our fathers used to put us together and we'd make mud pies and go swimming. " He told me sheepishly. All at once some of my older, less often remembered memories came flooding to my eyes, and I remembered Jake as a young boy.
I smiled then, the smile I remember smiling so many times as a kid, and I laughed lightly. Jake smiled, just as he had when we were kids. When we used to go swimming and walking on the beach and making our mud pies. Jacob and the packs were only standing a good ten feet in front of me.
"What, I don't get hugs anymore Jake? " I asked him teasingly. He laughed loudly and we walked up to each other and both gave a strong hug, grasping each other tightly. I had missed Jake when I was little, and as a teenager I had often thought of him, wishing he were there to be a ball of sunshine again and to make things better. He was still the old ray of sunshine he used to be.
Jake suddenly surprised me by picking me up and swinging me around like he did all the time when we were still kids, before Charlie had banned me from seeing him anymore. I laughed as he spun me and felt young and free again, without a problem in the world.
"Wow Jake, you've really grown. " I told him when he put me down, looking at how tall and muscular he was. He was a man now, not the little kid I used to know. It was nice to remember the old Jake, but I liked the new one.
"You have too Bells, you look so different. Your hair and eyes especially, they both used to be a dark brown. I wanna hear all about this. " he told me smiling. I smiled and laughed at the pout he put on before nodding my head. We both walked back over to the other wolves and I told everybody to sit in a circle.
"I'm going to do this the same way I did with the Cullens, the people I now consider my family. I am going to show you my whole life however, for I have a perfect memory in that aspect. From the last day I was waving goodbye to you Jake, to us sitting here right now. This will take about an hour, so I hope you all are ready. It won't feel like an hour, but it will be. Everybody join hands with the person next to you. " I instructed them. We formed a circle and I checked that everybody was ready.
"This will only be painful mentally for those with a loving heart and those who don't enjoy seeing pain, otherwise there is no real damage. I am sharing all of this with you because we need to make no mistakes. Keep these memories and thought as secret as the fact that you're all werewolves. Here we go. " I told them formally and seriously. They all nodded their heads with grave eyes and then became still; waiting.
I then poured out my memories from the last day I saw Jake, covered in mud from our latest mud pies and waving at me from his front porch. Everything else from then on followed, and they watched in silence. Everything that had happened to me, every bruise, every scream, every assignment.
It was all horrible, until the Cullens arrival. That's when things got much better, for the most part. We were nearly done, only a few more seconds. The memory they were now seeing was me jumping off the roof into the wind and snagging that tree branch. I heard some of the guys whistle and laugh at the look on Charlie's face.
Then, when it got to here, it faded, and their minds went blank of my memories. They thought through it all for a while, before releasing hands. So maybe it had taken a little more than an hour...
They all stared at me for a moment, before sweet Rachel got up and came over towards me. She sat down in front of me and in an instant was giving me a hug, sobbing. I hugged her and rubbed her back soothingly as she sat there.
Soon everyone joined into a giant group hug. It was a bit emotional. After the girls had shed their tears and the guys had finished off their weariness it was back to business.
"Bella, you were always welcome to our house before and you are now. You're a part of the tribe now girl, a part of the pack. Welocme, pack sister." Jacob told me, smiling warmly. A pack sister; I liked the sound of that. I smiled back and thanked him, and suddenly one of my instincts kicked in. Soul mates. I could sense all of their soul mates.
I could see Jacob and Sarah, Jared and Kim, Paul and Rachel, Quil and Clair, Sam and Emily. It made me smile.
I thanked them again and told them I would visit from time to time and for them to keep me updated. They agreed and I told them farewell, since I needed to get to the Cullens. I changed back into wolf form before their eyes, put my duffel on, and left quickly. I felt the sudden urge to see my soul mate.
At my current speed, I would be at the Cullens within minutes. It was nearing only ten at night; not too late for a friendly visit. In a few minutes time I could see the lights from the inside of the Cullen house shining through the trees. I put my duffel next to a tree on the edge of the woods and sat in the middle of their backyard.
I could see Alice, Kate, Irina, and Rose in Alice's room, and I could see Edward in his room, listening to some music and reading a book. Garrett, Laurent, Emmett, and Jasper were in the living room playing X-Box. Esme was in the kitchen making some dinner, Carlisle was also in the living room, reading a book. Tanya was in the kitchen talking to Esme.
I figured this was the perfect time to allow my presence to be known. Maybe even show off. They'd like that.